because when one side loses an election they don't riot. Not like, say, France.
...On election night, scattered violence was reported around France. There had been fears that the impoverished suburban housing projects, home to Arab and African immigrants and their French-born children, would erupt again at the victory of a man who labeled those responsible for rioting in 2005 as "scum." Police reported that 270 people were taken in for questioning and that 367 parked vehicles had been torched. On a typical night in France, about 100 cars are burned.
On another note we now have the Swedes, Quebeckers and the French (somewhat) rejecting socialism and making reforms to allow their economies to grow and employment rates to rise. If it can happen there it can happen anywhere. Alas, our state keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Comments (6)
Don’t bet on Sarkozy shrinking the French state much. I suspect he’ll be a Harper type.
Posted by Alan | May 7, 2007 9:33 AM
Posted on May 7, 2007 09:33
Alan is right, don’t buy the hype.
Posted by Greg | May 7, 2007 9:37 AM
Posted on May 7, 2007 09:37
While Sarkozy wants to radically reform the state (fire 30%+ public servants, cut teachers, etc etc), the problem is that the French President can’t do a heck of a lot in terms of domestic economic policy without the Parliament.
The French will go to the polls again on 10 and 17 June. If the Socialist and UDF (Bayrou’s people) parties can carve out a centre-left majority in the lower house of Parliament, Sarkozy may be forced to cohabitate with a centrist as his PM.
Sarkozy has another problem. The Chirac forces within UMP, including Dominique de Villepin, never much liked him, and are likely to find novel ways to undermine his authority over the coming years.
Posted by cb | May 7, 2007 10:19 AM
Posted on May 7, 2007 10:19
A big state means one where you get lots of service!
Some might say a bunch of underworked union bums are stealing tax money.
Posted by DrWright | May 7, 2007 12:49 PM
Posted on May 7, 2007 12:49
“On a typical night in France, about 100 cars are burned.”
Where are the Democrats calling for the US to withdraw from France, declaring it a failure?
Posted by Paul O | May 7, 2007 9:09 PM
Posted on May 7, 2007 21:09
Actually, revised numbers have 600 scum arrested and 750 cars torched. As I point out on my blog, Sarko could do worse than to have this level of provocation over the next 10 days. The French are throughly fed up and, should Sarko send in the Army to take out the “youths” he will have the backing of a goodly majority.
Not pretty but very necessary.
Posted by Jay Currie
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May 8, 2007 3:18 AM
Posted on May 8, 2007 03:18